Partners in Preservation Wrap Up (2006-2013)

May 13, 2013

Today, we are announcing the winners of our 2013 Partners in Preservation program in the Washington, DC Metro Area. While all of the winners had not been determined by press time, the Washington National Cathedral and Mount Vernon have been in a close race for first place in the popular vote.

Meanwhile, this seems like a good time to review some of the winning sites from the previous Partners in Preservation cities. Begun in 2006 as a partnership between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the program has awarded 85 preservation grants to historic sites in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis/Saint Paul and New York City.

Here are some details of past winners:

San Francisco (2006). We awarded grants totaling $1 million in the inaugural year of the program to 13 sites including Angel Island Immigration Station, Fox Oakland Theater and Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station. The popular vote winner was First Church of Christ, Scientist -- famed architect Bernard Maybeck's spectacular Arts and Crafts-style church in the heart of Berkeley. The church was awarded a grant of $118,000 to seismically upgrade the Sunday School, a 1929 project of Maybeck and his student, Henry Gutterson.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (left), Fox Oakland Theater (center) and Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station (right)

Chicagoland (2007). Partners in Preservation awarded grants totaling $1 million to 15 sites, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery and a Viking Ship. The winner of the popular vote was On Leong Merchant Association Building/Pui-Tak Center in Chicago. Located in Chinatown, this community center offers social services to recent Chinese immigrants. The Pui-Tak Center is recognized for its colorful and exquisite terra-cotta detailing, and pagoda-style roof. Our grant helped restore the terra cotta façade of the building.

New Orleans (2008). In 2008, we awarded five grants totaling $400,000 to support the restoration of community anchors and community centers that had sustained storm damage in Hurricane Katrina. Included in this effort were: the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans' Garden District; Odyssey House Louisiana, a behavioral healthcare facility bequeathed by New Orleans' first African American philanthropist in 1866; St. Augustine Parish Hall located in the historic Treme District; St. James A.M.E. Church in Mid-City; and St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, an architectural jewel in the Lower Garden District.

Greater Boston (2009). 12 historic sites in the Greater Boston area received preservation grants including the Old North Church, Lowell's Boat Shop, and the Museum of African American History. The popular vote winner was the Paragon Carousel in Hull, which received $100,000 to install historically accurate windows and doors, returning the building that houses the Carousel to its former glory and connecting the Carousel to its striking views of the ocean and bay.

The Old North Church (left), Lowell's Boat Shop (center) and Paragon Carousel (right)

Seattle-Puget Sound (2010). 11 historic sites won preservation grants in the Seattle-Puget Sound area, including Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks, the Orting Soldier's Home and the Skansie Brothers Net Shed. There was a very close popular vote with the Schooner Adventuress and Town Hall Seattle essentially achieving a tie for first place. The Schooner Adventuress received $125,000 to repair damage to the counter stern caused by the general wear and tear of life at sea, and Town Hall Seattle received $125,000 to help restore and seal the building's iconic white terra-cotta exterior as well as to repair the prominent stained-glass window on the building's south side.

Twin Cities (2011). Partners in Preservation awarded 13 grants in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota including American Swedish Institute, Fort Snelling Upper Post Building 67, and Historic Pilot Knob. The Basilica of Saint Mary won the popular vote. This house of worship was designed by French architect Emmanuel Masqueray. Completed in 1915, it was the first Catholic Church in the United States designated a Basilica by the Vatican. A grant of $110,000 helped repair the decorative ceilings, limestone walls and damaged plaster as well as restoring the historic paint and gold leaf found throughout the structure.

New York City (2012). In 2012, we awarded $3 million in historic preservation grants to 16 sites, including four popular vote winners: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum & Gardens in the Bronx, Brooklyn Public Library, Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, and the New York Botanical Garden. Bartow-Pell was awarded $155,000 to restore areas within the museum's gardens; the Brooklyn Public Library was awarded a grant of $250,000 to restore its main entrance doors; Congregation Beth Elohim was awarded $250,000 to restore the building's stained glass windows; and the New York Botanical Garden was awarded $250,000 to restore a rock garden.

Competing sites that did not receive preservation grants were awarded $5,000 operating support grants in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and the Twin Cities, and $10,000 grants in New York City.

Watch for further news of our winning historic sites in Washington, DC as well as future historic preservation grants in DC and around the world.

If you have questions or comments, please share them here. Alternatively, follow me on Twitter at @tmcclimonCSRNow and comment there.

P.S. Did you know that from 1910 to 1940, Angel Island was the West Coast entry point for over 1 million immigrants from the Pacific Rim?

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